Silverware for second place? There will be some conflicted feelings if Newcastle United have managed to finish the job and a plinth is constructed on the pitch at St James’ Park on the final day.

Whatever has happened in the last few weeks to sour the optimism on Tyneside, it would be a fine achievement for Newcastle to bounce back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

There will be talk of budgets and Rafa Benitez’s CV but as Newcastle have discovered over a bruising campaign, reputations count for nothing in a league that has proved to be a draining test of resolve and talent.

Joey Barton of Burnley walks on the pitch before the Emirates FA Cup third round match (Image: Sunderland AFC)

Brighton have been the best equipped for it but Newcastle are not too far behind. Would finishing second be a failure? Disappointing, perhaps, but placed in the wider context of what Benitez inherited at Newcastle – a complete mess, in short – it will, in time, be recognised as an achievement. Few other clubs manage to do it, even with resources equal to or better than Newcastle.

But it is the idea of lifting a trophy on the pitch that is perhaps a bit more contentious. Many feel that for a club that has had aspirations to win major silverware, it’s a bit of a comedown. Others say relief rather than celebration will be the overriding emotion. Results since March have tempered enthusiasm for this squad and feelings about this season.

To hand second-placed clubs silverware is a relatively new phenomenon.

The EFL do it to recognise the achievement of winning promotion. Until 2010 it was a shield and medals which were presented to the clubs who finished second – a reflection of previous criticism that teams that won the play-offs won silverware when the side that had finished above them walked away with nothing to show for their superior efforts.

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In 2011 the shield was upgraded to a trophy that is smaller in size than the Football League trophy - that historic piece of silverware that used to go to the winners of the top flight, too. Now it is the preserve of the Championship champions and Brighton – surely – will be lifting it. They need only one more win to guarantee top spot – the second time Chris Hughton has won the competition.

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The idea of having a trophy for the team that finished second was challenged by former United midfielder Joey Barton last summer as he mocked Middlesbrough for celebrating on the pitch while his Burnley side were made to wait.

Barton called the second place trophy a “little sh**ty trophy” in an expletive-laden rant at Burnley’s end-of-season celebrations.

The Clarets had been denied the chance to celebrate on the pitch by the EFL, who took the decision that teams should not be presented with the winners’ trophy at the grounds of opposition clubs. Burnley clinched the title with a 3-0 win over Charlton but weren’t presented with the trophy until a civic reception and open-topped bus ride.

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Barton – who lifted the trophy with Newcastle in 2010 – then laid into Boro at an end-of-season ceremony to mark Burnley’s win.

For Newcastle, it’s a slightly different story. Their exodus hasn’t been as long as Boro’s and promotion would be seen as the next step on a path towards restoring credibility and hopefully building a more competitive Premier League side.

No-one should take anything for granted right now. Newcastle have plenty of work to do. They may only need two wins, but the way they are playing that looks like a big ask.

Thankfully, Reading and Huddersfield have even bigger tasks to overhaul them. Both effectively have to win all of their games now to really turn the pressure up. Given how fraught it has become, the sooner the better for United.

If that happens, talk about the future can begin in earnest. Benitez and his team would deserve credit for winning promotion. It has not been easy and managing to last the pace should bring recognition. But it’s difficult to see that trophy taking pride of place in the trophy room at St James’ Park.